Letters to the Editor - Jan. 30, 2013

To the editor: On behalf of Fair Tide in Kittery, I want to publicly thank Barbour Warehouse Store for their continued support of our recently completed annual coat drive.

In the past three years, Barbour has donated well over 100 coats, which we have been able to distribute to residents in our transitional housing program, Kittery Schools and local schools, and York County Shelter Program. While for many of us, a winter coat is simply an article of clothing, it is something far more important to those without the financial means to afford it. For many of our recipients, it could mean a warm day on the playground, the ability to walk to the store to get groceries in warmth, or the confidence they now have with a beautiful warm coat.

All of us here at Fair Tide are so proud of our partnership with Barbour and feel it is important the general public knows their commitment to the community, because they are quiet about their contributions.

While the coat drive is over, Fair Tide continuously accepts donations of clothing and household items on a daily basis at The Fair Tide Thrift Store at 15 State Road in Kittery. We have great working relationships with dozens of agencies, so we can quickly and easily distribute any such donation to an individual or family in real need.

I thank Barbour Warehouse Store for their continued investment in the greater Seacoast and the many individual and corporate supporters who help Fair Tide achieve its mission to help the homeless.

Mary Oplinger

Executive Director

Fair Tide

Kittery, Maine

To the editor:We all remember 9-11 and all the people that died. But does everyone remember that not a single gun was involved. (No machine guns or assault weapons were used.) The men responsible for this terrible act used box cutters or small razor knives. Where do we place the blame for this incident that caused many innocent men, women and children to die. Do the box cutters get the blame; do the buildings get the blame; to the airplanes get the blame. NO! NO! NO! The blame is placed on the terrorists that caused that terrible disaster and nothing else.

How do we stop something like what happened in Newtown, Ct. from happening again? We probably can’t but we can prevent it from happening so often. I feel the answer lies with the solution the airlines came up with, and it seems to be working for them. They put air marshals with guns on the aircraft. They allowed certain pilots to carry a gun if they wanted to and were certified to carry a weapon. I would guess that 90% of the pilots don’t have a gun. Probably half of the airplanes don’t have a marshal on them. I don’t know, neither do you nor do the terrorists. So since the airlines instituted this practice, no aircraft have flown into buildings, causing many to die.

I feel the same practice would work well for the schools. I’m not saying every teacher should have a gun but if some of the teachers were trained, passed background checks, etc.; they could protect their children and themselves. If one of those brave teachers in Newtown had a gun, maybe they, and several children would be alive today. Intruders wouldn’t know which teacher had protection.

The mad man intended to kill more innocent children based on the amount of ammunition police found with him. Maybe if the intruder had seen a security guard or someone with a gun, he might have changed his mind. When he heard the police coming, he killed himself.

No matter how many laws are passed it will never stop the criminals and mad men from getting guns or box cutters. There has to be a way to stop this madness. Maybe the solution adapted by the airlines is worth a try.

Duane Eighmey

Dover

To the editor: How did taxes get such a bad name? They have been with us since the beginning of recorded history as payments to the government in exchange for military protection, public services and civil order. As Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. said, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.”

It is easy to understand how politicians are able to use half the story on taxes to fire people up. Asked if they want their taxes to go up, who in their right mind, would say, “Yes, love it!” A promise to cut taxes if you vote for me? Of course! Sounds like a great idea!

The other half of the story promises better roads, excellent schools, affordable health care, safe food and drugs, a faster Internet, a strong military and a myriad of other goodies which benefit us without reference to what it will cost us in taxes — tempting stuff!

It’s only when the direct link between costs and government services are made that the choices are clearly defined. What are we willing to give up to have taxes lowered? How much are we willing to pay to keep the programs that are important to us?

It’s time for our leaders to start treating us like adults and initiate a conversation about responsibility for ourselves, for others and for the government. As the French minister Anne-Robert Jacques Turgot remarked over two centuries ago, “The expenses of government, having for their object the interest of all, should be borne by everyone, and the more a man enjoys the advantages of society, the more he ought to hold himself honored in contributing to these expenses.”

There needs to be a direct link between enjoying the advantages and taking responsibility for paying them, which is or ought to be the way all of the citizenry acts together for the common good.

Cynthia Muse

Rye

To the editor: What do you get when you mix a great group of firefighters, Santa Claus and a classroom full of excited children?

The answer is simple - a joyous celebration of Christmas filled with giving, caring and sharing. Through the generosity of the George Grenier Memorial Fund, the Dover Professional Firefighters, along with Santa, worked their magic in my classroom at Garrison School.

My staff and I wish to extend our sincere thanks for their continued commitment to this occasion, particularly during these difficult times. As always it was an unforgettable afternoon for all involved.